Adhesive-applying apparatus

ABSTRACT

Portable apparatus and method for applying adhesive or like flowable material to a surface of a continuous sheet of material, such as wall covering and the like, in which a patterned nonsmooth applicator roller withdraws adhesive from a source of supply and applies the same to the sheet as it passes over the roller. Pressure adjustment is provided for between the applicator roller and a backup roller. Spring-urged adjustable scraper blade structure insures even distribution of adhesive and removal of any excess adhesive from the sheet. The sheet may be either manually or mechanically drawn through the apparatus during the adhesive applying procedure.

United States Patent 1 3,595,206

[72] lnventor Charles A. Larimer 632,059 8/1899 McCreery l18/DlG. 17 230 Palm Ave, Millbrae, Calif. 94030 2,440,431 4/1943 L ry 1 1 /249 X [21] Appl. No. 739,281 2,545,905 3/l95l Thomas 118/249 [22] Filed June 24, 1968 2,556,600 6/1951 Renne 118/249 X [45] Paemed July [971 Primary Examiner.lohn P. McIntosh Attorney-Boyken, Mohler, Foster and Schwab [54} APPARATUS ABSTRACT: Portable apparatus and method for applying adwmg hesive or like flowable material to a surface of a continuous [52] US. Cl 118/126, sheet of material, such as wall covering and the like, in which a 1 18/249 patterned nonsmooth applicator roller withdraws adhesive [51] Int. Cl B05c l/08, from a source of supply and applies the same to the sheet as it BOSc 11/02 passes over the roller. Pressure adjustment is provided for [50] Field of Search 118/249, between the applicator roller and a backup roller. Spring- 250, 126 urged adjustable scraper blade structure insures even distribution of adhesive and removal of any excess adhesive from the [561 References cued sheet. The sheet may be either manually or mechanically UNITED STATES PATENTS drawn through the apparatus during the adhesive applying 186,339 1/1877 Goodall 1 18/249 Procedure- ADHESIVE-APPLYING APPARATUS BACKGROUN D OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the effective application of a viscous flowable material, such as adhesive, to a surface of a sheet of material, such as a sheet of plastic or other wall covering, moving past a predetermined location. Heretofore, adhesive has been applied to wall-covering sheets in an entirely manual operation in which persons applied such adhesive to a sheet supported on a flat surface by using brushes or hand held rollers. With the subject invention, a substantially uniform layer of adhesive may be applied across the full width of a sheet of wall covering'or the like drawn past a reference location in a substantially continuous procedure, interrupted only as necessary after adhesive application to sever the sheet into separate sections of predetermined lengths, determined by the size of the wall or other surface to be covered.

The apparatus and method incorporated in this invention insure improved results by effecting substantially uniform adhesive application in a procedure which is simple and neat, which effectively conserves materials used, and which eliminates waste.

The subject apparatus includes an improved feed applicator roller provided with a particular textured or patterned surface which is highly effective for withdrawing adhesive from a source of supply thereof and applying the same general uniformly to one surface of a sheet drawn past and fed between the applicator roller and a backup roller positioned closely adjacent thereto. The applicator roller in its preferred embodiment is provided with a roughened, nonsmooth surface surrounding a central core. Such roller may be formed in several ways, but in the preferred embodiment is formed by winding a length of fibrous material,-such as cotton or like cord, around a rigid metal core from adjacentone end toward the other thereof. Altematively,-knurled metal rollers having surface roughening thereon may be employed as a less desirable alternate construction.

The sheet being coated with adhesive may be manually drawn through the apparatus by one or two workmen, or mechanical power means, in the form of an electric motor or the like, may be employed to drive the applicator roller to draw the sheet positively through the apparatus. Contact pressure applied to the sheet may be varied selectively by means provided for that purpose.

Suitable means, in the preferred form of a scraper blade structure, may be employed to further insure uniform application of adhesive to the sheet and removal of any excess adhesive therefrom. The degree or extent of engagement of such blade structure with the sheet, and the pressure of such engagement, may be varied selectively by means provided for those purposes.

Improved guide means are also included in the subject apparatus to insure proper centering of the sheet and to preclude misalignment thereof during its passage to and between the applicator and backup rollers.

While this invention is disclosed herein specifically in conjunction with a procedure for applying adhesive to a sheet of wall covering, it should be understood, and it is contemplated within the scope of this invention, that the subject apparatus and method have applicability and utility in conjunction with the applying of flowable materials other than adhesive to sheets of material other than wall covering. However, the effectiveness of this invention for the disclosed purpose has been established, and its utility in simplifying, improving and speeding up adhesive application in wall-covering operations has been fully demonstrated.

2. Description of the Prior Art Sofar as is known, no apparatus has been devised heretofore which may be taken directly to the site of the job where wall covering is being applied to surfaces of a building under construction. or renovation. Heretofore, manual procedures on the job have been used which employ hand held brushes or, more recently, rollers for applying adhesive to wall-covering sheets cut to desired length.

Such manual procedures result in wasted adhesive and attendant mess because adhesive applied with brushes 0r rollers almost invariably is applied beyond the borders of the sheet being treated and therefore onto the surface on which the sheet is supported during adhesive application. As a result, sheets subsequently treated on the same work surface have adhesive applied to their outer surfaces because of the adhesive residue remaining on the work surface from prior operations. To correct such a situation, great caution is required on the part of the workman not to apply adhesive beyond the border of the sheet being treated, or extensive cleanup of the work surface before a subsequent sheet is treated thereon is required. In either event, lost time and materials and slow procedures, producing unnecessary expenses in wall-covering operations, are the result of prior known operations.

With the subject invention, substantiallyall material waste is eliminated and uniform and highly effective adhesive application, in a much more rapid procedure than known heretofore, is efi'ected. As a result, a smaller crew of wall-covering workmen is required to produce results faster and superior to those heretofore produced by'a larger crew, resulting in substantial savings in labor and material costs.

Because the subject apparatus is fully portable, and in a preferred embodiment requires no electrical or other power connections to'drive the same, it may be used on even the most difficult to reach job sites, including those at which electricity is unavailable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus and method for applying flowable material to a surface of a sheet drawn past a predetermined location. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and procedure for applying adhesive uniformly to a one surface of a wall-covering or like sheet prior to application of such sheet to a wall or other surface. The subject apparatus is, in its preferred embodiment, fully portable and easily transportable to a job site for use directly thereat by a wall covering crew of a smaller size than heretofore required to complete a given job in a given time period.

To this end, the apparatus of this invention comprises a similar relatively lightweight and easily transportable machine by means of which a sheet of wall-covering material may be drawn from a supply roll thereof in a substantially continuous operation, interrupted only periodically as required to permit severing of separate sections of predetermined lengths to which adhesive has been applied by the subject apparatus. The apparatus of this invention requires no special skills to operate; the sheet may be drawn therethrough either manually, when electrical or other power sources are not available, or nonmanually by an electric motor or the like, when power sources are available or when such mechanical driving is preferred. The resulting product has a substantially uniform layer of adhesive applied across its full length and width so that secure application to the wall or other surface to which it is to be applied is insured.

From the foregoing, it should be understood that objects of this invention include: the provision of a simple yet highly effective apparatus and method for applying a flowable material, such as adhesive, to a parent sheet, such as a sheet of wall covering or the like; the provision of portable apparatus for applying adhesive to a wall covering'sheet which may be transported to the job site and usable thereat without requiring electrical or other power sources; the provision of apparatus for applying adhesive to a sheet of wall covering in'which the sheet may be drawn manually through the apparatus, or mechanically if a power source is available; the provision in an adhesive applying apparatus of improved feed applicator roller structure which includes a patterned nonsmooth surface for more effective adhesive application; the provision in such an apparatus of a roller having a roughened surface machined therein or formed thereon by surrounding the same with a fibrous material, such as a continuous length of cord wound therearound; the provision in an apparatus for applying adhesive to a parent sheet of selectively adjustable means for insuring efiective distribution of adhesive across the surface of the sheet; and the provision in an adhesive applying apparatus of means for selectively altering the contact pressure between an applicator roller and a backup roller positioned in conjunction therewith between which the sheet being treated is drawn.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following detailed disclosure in which reference is directed to the appended drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the subject apparatus shown mounted upon a supporting table and further illustrating a work table positioned adjacent thereto for receiving sheet sections to which adhesive has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus taken in the plane of line 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus showing the improved sheet guide means thereof.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus taken in the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial horizontal sectional view through the apparatus taken in the plane of line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus taken in the plane of line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a partial bottom plan view of a portion of the wiper blade structure of the apparatus taken in the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a partial side elevational view of the apparatus defined by line 8-8 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view corresponding in general respects to the showing of FIG. 5 but illustrating a modified embodiment of the subject apparatus.

FIGS. 10 and II are partial plan views of modified feed applicator rollers usable with the subject apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As mentioned herein previously, this apparatus and method have particular utility and effectiveness when employed to apply a flowable viscous adhesive to a surface of a sheet of wall covering to be applied to a wall of a room in a building being erected or renovated. However, in its broader aspects, this invention has utility in applying other flowable materials to sheets of material other than wall covering sheets. The following detailed disclosure in intended to be illustrative of, rather than limiting on, the novel features of this invention.

By way of introduction, textured covering sheets of plastic or other materials, such as those having a fabric backing or those which are selfsupporting, are particularly well adapted for use with the subject invention. By way of illustration, wall covering sheets of the type treatable with this invention are disclosed and described by Columbus Coated Fabrics Division of Borden Chemical Company in its brochure No. GUF-l288, identified on its cover as AIA File No. 28-C and relating to its trademarked vinyl plastic wall coverings, GUARD, SATINESQUE and WALL-TEX. Obviously, however, other wall covering sheets produced by other manufacturers, both of plastic or nonplastic materials, may be utilized with the subject invention.

Generally such sheets, for purposes of reference, are approximately 54 inches wide and are available in quantity in roll form, each roll having several hundreds of feet of wall covering sheet therein. Other widths and lengths, of course, are available and are usable in the subject apparatus.

The type of adhesive employed may be chosen from any standard wall covering adhesive currently available on the open market. The particular type of adhesive utilized is not critical or limiting on this invention and many standard adhesives are available. However, for best results, the adhesive applied should be flowable but relatively viscous, to prevent free running thereof and to insure uniform application to the surface of the wall-covering sheet and secure bonding to a wall surface after the sheet is cut to length and applied thereto.

Referring first to FIG. 1 the apparatus of this invention, generally designated 1, is supported during use by a table generally designated 2. Any suitable means, such as bolting or the like (not shown), may be employed to securely yet removably maintain apparatus 1 on the upper surface 3 of the table 2. The apparatus is fully portable, either in combination with table 2 or separate therefrom, so that the same may be transported directly to the job site for use by wall-covering workmen directly on the job.

Although forming no part of this invention, preferably a worktable, generally designated 3, is positioned closely adjacent the discharge end of the apparatus in the manner seen in FIG. I so that a severed section of sheet to which adhesive has been applied may he supported during folding and other handling by the workmen in conventional manner prior to its application to a wall. That is, after a section of wall covering to which adhesive has been applied has been drawn from the ap paratus l and has been cut to the desired length, it is positioned on work table 3 and its adhesive coated surface is first folded over into contact with itself; thereafter other folds are made in known manner so that one workman may handle the sheet without assistance during its application to a wall. Such handling and application procedure is well known in the wallcovering trade.

In practice, a plurality of such separate sheet sections sufficient to cover a predetermined wall area and folded as described, are prepared by a workman or team of workmen. As the adhesive used is not quick drying, a substantial number of such sheet sections may be prepared before they are applied individually to a wall to cover the predetermined area and before another supply of similar sheet sections are prepared.

The supporting table 2 may be formed with any suitable supporting frame structure such as that illustrated in FIG. 1 and generally designated 4. Such structure preferably includes a pair of laterally spaced generally parallel braces 6, each of which has an extension 7 thereon, in the upper edge of which is formed a notched cutout 8 in which the core 9 of a supply roll 11 of a quantity of wall-covering sheet is rotatably received.

As seen in FIG. 1, as sheet S is withdrawn from the supply roll 11, it passes upwardly into and through the apparatus where adhesive is applied to one surface thereof in a substantially continuous operation, such movement being interrupted only as required to sever separate sections of sheet, the lengths of which are determined by the size of the wall to be covered. As such sheet sections are severed in sequence, they are handled in the manner described previously by a workman or team of workmen working at table 3 positioned conveniently to the apparatus 1.

As seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 the apparatus has been designed with simplicity of construction in mind to facilitate its use by workmen with no special mechanical skills, and to minimize its cost and enhance its transportability. To that end, in its preferred form, the apparatus includes a source of supply in the form of an open tank 12 in which a quantity of adhesive 13 is positioned. As seen best from FIG. 4, the bottom of tank 12 has a tapered section which insures that adhesive will be available to means for withdrawing adhesive from the tank as the supply decreases. Such means include a feed or applicator roller M positioned in tank 12 and partially emersed in the adhesive supply as best seen in FIG. 4.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the apparatus is designed to be manually actuated. That is, the sheet is to be manually pulled or drawn through the apparatus by one or two workmen grasping the comers of the free end of the sheet and drawing the same through the apparatus until the desired length has been coated with adhesive, following which such length is severed by any suitable means, such as by drawing a knife along an edge of a T-shaped anvil 16 extend ing transversely of the apparatus between and mounted upon opposed frame members 17 and 18 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. Frame members 17 and 18 in turn are pivotally connected to opposed extensions 19 and 21 which are secured by welding or equivalent means to the opposed walls of tank 12 and form part of the sidewalls thereof. Means pivotally connecting such frame members to the tank sidewalls comprises pivot pins 22 and 23, surrounded respectively by spacers 24 and 26 which space the frame members 17 and 18 from the tank sidewall extensions l9 and2l, to permit upward pivotal movement of such braces and the structures carried thereby as will be described.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, applicator roller 14 is rotatably mounted in the interior of tank 12 by means of two multipiece bearing structures each of which is generally designated 27. Each such bearing structure comprises three flat plates 28, 29 and 31 secured together by a series of bolts and nuts 32. Plate 29 is of generally rectangular configuration and is of a smaller dimension than the plates 28 and 31 between which it is positioned. Each bearing structure 27 defined by such plates is slidably received betweena pair of laterally spaced cut out mounting brackets 33 secured in spaced relationship to the respective sidewalls of the tank and spaced inwardly therefrom, by suitable bolted spacer structures generally designated 34, so that sliding disengagement of the bearing structures from the respective mounting brackets may be effected.

While FIG. 5 shows details of a bearing and mounting structure for only one end of the applicator roller, it should be understood that similar structure is provided on the opposite sidewall of the tank to support the opposite end of the roller. Thus, it is a simple matter to separate roller 14 from the tank to facilitate cleaning of the roller and the tank as required merely by pivoting the frame members 17 and 18 upwardly and out of the way about the axes of pivot pins 22 and 23, so

that the roller may be moved upwardly out of engagement with the brackets 33.

In that connection, roller 14 is provided at each of its opposite ends with a shaft 36 projecting from core 38 thereof. Shaft 36 is removably and rotatably received within a bearing housing 37 secured to plate 28 forming part of the bearing structure just described. Thus, the roller may be separated entirely from its respective bearing stnictures as desired.

Still referring to FIG. 5 it will be noted the applicator roller illustrated comprises the aforementioned rigid metal core 38 from which a shaft 36 projects at each end. The core in the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 5 is surrounded by means provided to effect substantially uniform application of adhesive to the surface of the sheet being drawn past such roller. The nature of such means, and suitable alternatives thereto, will be described hereinafter.

Mounted rotatably upon and extending the width of the apparatus between the aforementioned frame members 17 and I8 is backup means cooperable with applicator roller 14 to insure effective application of adhesive to the wall-covering sheet. Such backup means in the illustrated embodiment comprises a generally smooth surfaced roller 39, comprising a rigid metal core 41 and, at 42, a resilient rubber covering surrounding and bonded to such core, as seen in FIG. 4.

Under normal operating conditions, backup roller 39 is urged toward applicator roller 14 and would rotate in direct frictional drive contact therewith except for the presence of the sheet positioned to pass therebetween. The contact pressure between backup roller 39 and applicator roller 14 is made selectively variable by spring-urged means provided to hold frame members 17 and 18 and backup roller 39 mounted thereon in the down or operativeposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. To impart rigidity and strength to the pivotal frame structure provided by members 17 and 18, a second transverse support 42 is secured to extend therebetween in parallel relationship to the anvil member 16 mentioned previously as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4.

Secured to the under side of support 42 at each end of its opposite ends, as best seen in FIG. 2 are stop member 43 and 44 which engage the upper edges of the respective sidewall extensions 19 and 21 of the tank 12. The stop members limit the pivotal downward movement of the frame structure in such a manner that backup roller 39 is properly positioned in rolling contact with applicator roller 14.

Projecting laterally from the respective stop members 43 and 44 are pins 46 and 47 (FIGS. 2 and 8). Such pins comprise part of adjustable pressure means provided to permit selective increase or decrease in the contact pressure between the backup roller and the applicator roller as described. Such pressure means comprises spring-urged latching structure which in the preferred embodiment illustrated is defined, as seen in FIG. 8, by a coil spring element 48 secured at its lower end to a pin 49 projecting from the sidewall 19 of the tank. A similar pin 51, as seen in FIG. 2, projects from the opposite sidewall 21 of the tank to receive a similar spring of a similar latching structure cooperable with aforementioned pin 47 on such sidewall.

The other end of spring 48 is hooked with a rigid latch member 52 having a finger accommodating ring 53 at one end thereof and a series of spaced, generally parallel ribs 53 extending transversely thereof. As best seen in FIG. 8, by selectively engaging one of the ribs 53 with pin 46 on the frame structure, the holddown pressure applied by the latching structure to the frame structure may be selectively varied to thereby increase or decrease the rolling contact pressure between the backup roller and the applicator roller, and accordingly on the sheet passing therebetween. Such contact pressure will be varied in accordance with the nature, type of material, thickness, and other characteristics of sheet being treated to insure most effective results.

Because of the resilient covering provided provided on backup roller 39, such roller produces a cushioning effect, in conjunction with the applicator roller 14 to be described, on the wall-covering sheet passing therebetween. This cushioning effect meters and limits the thickness of the layer of adhesive applied to the sheet, in conjunction with the patterned surface of the applicator roller and the contact pressure existing between those rollers. Furthermore, the resilient cushioning provided by the backup roller prevents slippage and insures rotation, via friction, of the applicator roller in a manually actuated apparatus.

If desired, backup roller 39 may be removably mounted on the pivotal frame structure defined by frame members 17 and 18 but, in its preferred form, such separability is not necessary because the backup roller is generally held out of contact with the adhesive applied to the sheet and removal thereof is normally not necessary for cleaning or other purposes. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the mounting structure for the backup roller in- .cludes a shaft 54 extending from each of its opposite ends which is receivable in any suitable bearing structure 55 mounted in known fashion to the inner surfaces of the frame members 17 and 18 (FIG. 2). Rotation of the backup roller is effected through its frictional contact with the applicator roller and the sheet passing therebetween.

An important feature of this invention, as mentioned previously, resides in the particular and novel construction of the applicator roller 14 and its patterned surface. As illustrated in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the applicator roller includes a solid rigid core of a suitable metal, such as steel, around which is positioned a nonmetallic sleeve or wrapping formed of a material which imparts a textured or patterned surface to the roller. In its preferred form, such covering is provided by a fibrous material material comprising a length of cord 56 wound in a gradual helix about the core and secured so as to be rotatable therewith. The cord extends from adjacent one end of the core to the other and is held against lateral shifting therealong by a suitable adhesive bonding the cord to roller core. The cord chosen may be of any suitable fibrous material, with conventional cotton or hemp cord being suitably employed for that purpose, but synthetic cords may also be used. Cord having a diameter in the range of one-sixteenth inch to one-half inch has been found suitable.

The function of the nonsmooth cord wrapping is to facilitate picking up of adhesive from the adhesive supply. For that purpose, the textured surface imparted to the applicator roller by the convolutions of the cord assist in retaining adhesive on the roller prior to its engagement with the wall'covering sheet. The helical recesses or depressions between adjacent convolutions of the cord wrapping in effect trap adhesive and carry the same from the adhesive supply onto the wall-covering sheet to effect substantially uniform application across the surface of the sheet as the sheet passes in engagement with the upper surface of the applicator roller. The pressure applied to the sheet by backup roller 39, as illustrated in FIG. 4, tends to flatten the convolutions of the cord to further assist in uniform spreading of adhesive across the surface of the wall-covering sheet.

While it has been found generally unnecessary to further spread the adhesive across the surface of the sheet after contact thereof by the applicator roller and backup roller, to insure uniform application with difficult to treat wall-covering sheets, such as textured or patterned sheets, it has been found desirable under certain situations to employ means for insuring effective adhesive distribution across the sheet and also to effect removal of any unwanted excess adhesive from the sheet surface. Such means comprises wiping blade structure, generally designated 61 in FIG. 4, which is adjustably mounted upon the frame members 17 and 18 and extends transversely therebetween. The wiping blade structure is movable with the frame structure when the latter is pivoted upwardly from the operative position shown in FIG. 4.

Such wiping blade structure comprises a generally flat elongated mounting plate 62 along one edge of which is mounted a patterned wiping blade 63 secured by riveting or other equivalent means to the plate. Mounting plate 62 in turn is secured by a generally Z-shaped bracket 64 to a pivotal shaft 66 which extends between and is rotatable in a pair of substantially identical generally vertically arranged supporting plates 67 and 68 (FIG. 2) secured to the opposed frame members l7, 18.

Referring to supporting plate 68 shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the same is provided with structure operable through spring mechanism to apply selectively variable contacting pressure to the wiping blade 63 mounted on the pivot shaft 66. In that regard, adjacent its upper end, the supporting plate is provided with an enlarged portion 69 having a series of spaced slots 71 fon'ned in the surface thereof at varying angles to the vertical. Such slots are provided to receive therein an upper end of an elongated spring member 72, the lower end of which is received in a bore formed through pivot shaft 66 adjacent the end thereof. The upper end of spring 72 is engaged in a preselected one of the slots 71 detennined by the amount of pressure to be applied to the wiper blade 63. It should be understood, referring to FIG. 4, that location of spring 72 in the leftmost slot 71 will apply the least pressure to the wiping blade 63 whereas positioning of the spring in the rightmost slot will apply the greatest pressure thereto. The amount of pressure applied to the wiping blade will be determined in accordance with the type and nature of the wall-covering sheet being treated by the subject apparatus with greater pressure being applied to those sheets in which a difficult to treat patterned surface is encountered.

As seen in FIG. 7, the wiping blade is provided with a knurled or diamond shaped pattern which insures proper spreading of the adhesive across the face of the wall-covering sheet while insuring removal of excess adhesive therefrom. It should be noted from FIG. 4 also that engagement of the wiping blade with the sheet is intended to be other than an edgeto-edge-type engagement. Rather, substantial surface-to-surface contact is preferred for most effective utilization of the wiper blade.

In this latter regard, the apparatus also includes means for adjusting the location or position of the wiping blade relative to the backup roll and the sheet passing therearound for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the amount of surface contact of the blade with the sheet being treated. To that end, supporting plates 67 and 68 mentioned previously are secured for movement with opposed slidable mounting brackets 73 and 74 as best seen in FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, on frame members 17 and 18 respectively. In that regard, from FIG. 6 it will be noted that exemplary frame member 18 is provided with a threaded bore 75 therein in which an adjusting screw 76 is threadly engaged. Each slidable mounting bracket in turn is formed with an elongated slot 77 in its upper surface and such mounting bracket is slidably positioned to straddle its associated frame member in the manner shown in FIG. 6. By releasing setscrews 76, the mounting brackets and the other structure carried thereby may be slidably moved closer to or farther away from the axis of backup roller 39 in a manner evident from FIG. 4, thereby bringing the wiping blade 63 into greater or less contact with the surface of the wall-covering sheet passing around the backup roller.

The subject apparatus further includes guide means for insuring that the sheet of wall covering being treated after withdrawal from the supply roll 11 is maintained properly aligned prior to and during its passage between the applicator roller and the backup roller. To this end, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, an elongated tubular shaft 80 extends between and is secured to the opposed extensions of sidewalls l9 and 21 of the apparatus. Such shaft guides the sheet into the apparatus and forms an initial bearing guide surface over which the sheet slidably passes. An additional and important guide surface for the sheet is formed closely adjacent the backup roller 39 which is defined by an elongated guide bar, preferably formed of a suitable friction resisting plastic such as Teflon designated 78. Such guide bar is secured to an inturned flange 79 forming the upper front edge of the supply tank 12 as best seen in FIG. 4. Suitable countersunk bores 81 are provided at spaced locations along the length of the guide bar 78 and headed screws 82 extend through the guide bar and are held in place by nuts positioned on the underside of flange 79. Thus, guide bar 78 is securely maintained in position closely adjacent to and generally in line with the axis of rotation of the backup roller 39.

As seen in FIG. 4, guide bar 78 is provided with beveled corners 83, each of which is formed at approximately a 30 angle relative to the horizontal. Such beveled corners impart a generally concave configuration to the upper surface of the guide bar and insure smooth passage of the wall-covering sheet thereover.

The guide bar 78, as seen in FIG. 4, is spaced from, but close to, the side of the backup roller with its upper surface at least at the level of the axis of the backup roller. It is supported on the tank, and in the foregoing position the portion of the sheet 5 that extends between the bar 78, after passing over the latter, and the point where the sheet passes between rollers 14, 39 will be tightly drawn against the roller 39 at the entry side of said roller for a substantial distance, which may be to a level halfway or more between the level of said axis and the level of the lowermost side of roller 14. In coating vinyl, and vinyl coated fabric wall coverings, the polyvinyl acetate adhesive will back up on the back or lower side of the wall covering at the entry side of the pair of rollers a substantial distance and would pass over the edges of the wall covering and onto the upper side or face if the face of the wall covering were not supported by the guide bar as above described.

A further important feature of the guide bar 78 resides in the fact that the generally vertical edge surface 84 thereof, which is most closely positioned adjacent the backup roller 39, is formed with an outward bow or convexity as is evident from the showings of FIGS. 2 and 3. Such convexity imparts a gradual but continual curvature to the guide bar edge closest to the backup roller from one end thereof to the other. Such curvature performs the important function of maintaining the wall-covering sheet properly centered as it passes over the guide bar prior to its entry between the bight of the applicator roller and the backup roller. The convexity imparted to the guide bar is particularly useful in the manually operated machine in which workmen manually draw the sheet through the machine, in which case the possibility of offcenter passage of the sheet normally would be increased due to possible unequal pulls being applied by workmen on opposite sides of the sheet. With a mechanically driven machine, the possibility of off centering, while present, would be less prevalent.

In this latter regard, referring to FIG. 9, a modified embodiment in which means are included for positively drawing the sheet through the apparatus is shown. Such means includes mechanism for driving the applicator feed roll. in most important respects, the embodiment shown in FlG. 9 corresponds to the nondriven embodiment shown in FIG. 5, with the exception that the opposite shafts 36 on which the applicator roller is rotatably mounted include an extension 86 which projects through the bearing structure 27 described previously and is operatively but separably engaged in known fashion with a power drive source, such as an electric motor 87 mounted adjacent or on the sidewall 19 of the apparatus. A suitable fluid seal bearing 88 is positioned in the aperture formed in the sidewall to accommodate the shaft extension 86 to preclude adhesive leakage. Although not specifically illustrated, any known expedient may be employed to permit separation and disengagement of the bearing structure 27 from the shaft extension 86, so that applicator roller 14 may be removed from the supply tank for the purposes described previously, or so that this embodiment may be manually actuated in locations where a power source in unavailable. With this embodiment, is is unnecessary for workmen to physically pull or draw the wall-covering sheet between the applicator roller and the backup roller. Uponactuation of the motor, the shaft 36 with which the applicator roller is operatively connected is rotated and the contact pressure between the applicator roller and the backup roller effects drawing of the sheet into and through the bight between the rollers. By positioning a motor control switch at a convenient location adjacent the work table 3 on which completed sheets are to be folded, a predetermined length of wall covering sheet may be fed through the apparatus, and then severed into a separate segment while the motor is deactivated. Upon the motor being reactivated, the operation may be repeated sequentially as often as required. I

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, modified embodiments of the applicator roller are illustrated. in FIG. 10, a metal roller having a grooved, contoured periphery is identified by reference numerally 89. The grooves formed in the surface of such metal roller are provided for the same purpose as the cord wrapping on roller 14 described previously. The grooves shown may be formed as a series of parallel shallow cuts, or may be one continuous shallow helical cut, formed in the surface of the roller. In FIG. 11 a further modified applicator roller construction is shown which comprises a knurled roller having a square or diamond-shaped pattern formed directly in the metal surface thereof. Other patterns or configurations may be employed also if they are capable of producing the result desired, namely removing adhesive from a supply tank and holding the same as it is transferred onto the sheet of wall covering as the same passes between the rollers as described previously. However, because of the cost factors, the patterned construction imparted to the applicator roller by the wound cord embodiment described previously is preferable because substantially higher cost is involved in machining mination of the scope to be afforded thereto.

c arm:

1. ln apparatus for applying adhesive to the back side of a sheet of wall covering having an opposite front side, which apparatus includes; a tank for supply of adhesive; an elongated, horizontally disposed adhesive applicator roller supported for rotation partially extending into such supply when the latter is in said tank, and over which roller said sheet is adapted to be drawn from a roll thereof with its back side against said roller for receiving adhesive carried to said back side by said roller; an elongated backup roller above and parallel with said applicator roller having a cylindrical outer surface, and spring means holding said applicator roller and said backup roller in yieldable engagement with said sheet at opposite sides thereof when said sheet is drawn in one direction between said rollers from an entry to an exit side and around said backup roller and across its upper side in an adhesive-applying operation, the improvement comprising:

a. said applicator roller having an outer surface providing radially outwardly opening recesses for carrying adhesive to said back side in such adhesive-applying operation and said backup roller having an outer layer of resilient rubber providing a cushion against the front side of said sheet for yieldably engaging said front side,

. an elongated adhesive removing and distributing element parallel with said backup roller having a sheet-engaging surface tangential to the outer cylindrical surface of said backup roller supported in a position facing generally downwardly for wiping engagement of said sheet-engaging surface with the back side of said sheet adjacent to the upper side of said backup roller at the exit side of the pair of rollers when said sheet is drawn around and away from said backup roller in said adhesive-applying operation to remove excess adhesive from said back side and to distribute adhesive uniformly over said backside,

c. supporting means for supporting said element in said position for movement transversely of the length thereof and in the plane of said sheet-engaging surface to different adjusted positions for varying the area in engagement with said back side of said sheet for varying the amount of adhesive carried on said back side past said element while insuring uniform distribution of said adhesive,

d. elongated guide means substantially parallel with said backup roller in a position relatively closely adjacent to said backup roller at said entry side of said rollers and at approximately the level of the longitudinal axis of said backup roller for supporting a portion of said sheet against the outer cylindrical surface of said backup roller a substantial distance upwardly at said entry side to prevent adhesive carried by said applicator roller to the back side of said wall covering from piling up at the entry side of said rollers to passing over the edges of said wall covering onto the front side of the latter during said adhesive-applying operation, and means for supporting said guide means in said position. 

